Oenothera plant named ‘LISHAL’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Oenothera  plant named ‘LISHAL’ which is an herbaceous perennial with upright stems arising from a basal rosette or crown, whose foliage is variegated, with cream margins, and whose flowers appear as terminal corymbs and are bright yellow and cup shaped. In combination these traits set ‘LISHAL’ apart from all other existing varieties of  Oenothera  known to the inventor.

Genus: Oenothera sp.

Denomination: ‘LISHAL’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of evening primrose which may be grown as a perennial plant in regions where it is hardy and as an annual bedding plant in regions where it is tender. The new cultivar is known botanically as Oenothera and will be referred to hereinafter by the cultivar name ‘LISHAL’.

The new cultivar ‘LISHAL’ was discovered in 2000 at a nursery in Hampshire, England as a naturally occurring branch sport on an individual whole plant of Oenothera ‘Crown Imperial’ (unpatented). The parent of ‘LISHAL’ is an individual plant of Oenothera ‘Crown Imperial’. The inventor has been unable to determine the nomenclature of the species of Oenothera ‘Crown Imperial’ since it does not closely resemble any variety or species of Oenothera known to the inventor.

The inventor discovered ‘LISHAL’ while taking cuttings from plants of Oenothera ‘Crown Imperial’ for subsequent propagation and production. Whereas the foliage of Oenothera ‘Crown Imperial’ is uniformly plain deep green in color, the leaves of the branch sport, ‘LISHAL’ were observed by the inventor to have a cream colored margin. The inventor considered that the branch sport may have commercial potential if it could be successfully asexually propagated and found to reproduce true to type. In 2001, the inventor excised the branch sport from its parent and took an internodal stem cutting from the excised plant material. The cutting was placed under mist on a heated bench, with bottom heat temperature of 21° Centigrade. The cutting rooted and was transplanted into a 9 cm container and was observed by the inventor. The inventor observed that the new plant possessed the characteristic cream colored margin of the originally discovered branch sport, ‘LISHAL’.

Since 2001, the inventor has carried out annual cycles of asexual propagation using stem cuttings and has determined that ‘LISHAL’ has remained stable and has reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

The new cultivar ‘LISHAL’ is characterized by a basal rosetted crown with stiff upright stems and variegated foliage. The stems terminate with a corymb of bright yellow flowers. The foliage of ‘LISHAL’ remains evergreen in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 and higher, and dies back to the ground in colder regions.

The closest comparison plant known to the inventor is the parent cultivar Oenothera ‘Crown Imperial’ which may be distinguished as follows: Whereas the foliage of ‘Crown Imperial’ is uniformly and consistently plain deep green, the foliage of ‘LISHAL’ is variegated, namely mid green with a cream edge or margin.

The inventor filed an application for a grant of European Community Plant Variety Rights on Jul. 19, 2004, Ser. No. 2004/1385. The first plants of ‘LISHAL’ to be sold or offered for sale took place on or after May 1, 2005, by the inventor and from plants which had been growing at the inventor's nursery.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the distinguishing characteristics of the new variety ‘LISHAL’. In combination these traits set ‘LISHAL’ apart from all other Oenothera known to the inventor. ‘LISHAL’ has not been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions, however, without any variance in genotype.

-   -   1. ‘LISHAL’ is an herbaceous perennial with upright stems         arising from a basal rosette or crown.     -   2. The foliage of ‘LISHAL’ is variegated, with cream margins.     -   3. The flowers of ‘LISHAL’ appear as terminal corymbs and are         bright yellow and cup shaped.     -   4. ‘LISHAL’ is suitable for use in borders or in planted         containers.     -   5. ‘LISHAL’ can be propagated from internodal stem cuttings         which may be rooted under mist with moderate bottom heat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color drawings labeled FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 illustrate the overall appearance of the new Oenothera cultivar ‘LISHAL’ showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the drawings may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actual colors of the new variety ‘LISHAL’.

The drawing labeled FIG. 1 depicts a clump of two year old plants of ‘LISHAL’ which are just coming into bud and which exhibit the characteristic cream margin to the foliage. The plants are growing in loamy garden soil out of doors at the inventor's garden in Hampshire, England.

The drawing labeled FIG. 2 depicts a close-up view of the foliage and flowers of ‘LISHAL’ showing the characteristic cream margins to the leaves and the large bright yellow flowers.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 were made using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance they are as accurate as possible by conventional photography.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new Oenothera plant named ‘LISHAL’. Data was collected in England from a 2 year old plant grown out-of-doors in a 3-liter container in Hampshire, England. The color determinations are in accordance with the 2001 edition of The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Oenothera ‘LISHAL’. -   Genus: Oenothera. -   Species: Not known. -   Denomination: ‘LISHAL’. -   Common name: Evening primrose. -   Commercial classification: Herbaceous perennial. -   Plant form: Basal rosette or crown with many upright stems. Vase     shaped. -   Plant use: Suitable for use in borders or in planted containers. -   Cultural requirements: Fertile well-draining soil, full sun or     partial shade, and minimal to moderate water. -   Root system: Fine and fibrous. -   Vigor: Vigorous, spreading freely by rhizomes. -   Parentage: Oenothera ‘LISHAL’ was discovered as a naturally     occurring branch sport on an individual whole plant of the following     parent:     -   -   Parent plant.—Oenothera ‘Crown Imperial’. -   Plant description:     -   -   Seasonal interest.—Flowers bloom in June and July.         -   Plant habit.—Non-invasive evergreen basal rosette with             herbaceous flowering stems.         -   Dimensions.—56 cm in height, 56 cm in width at maturity.         -   Hardiness.—Foliage is hardy and evergreen in the United             Kingdom in temperatures equivalent to USDA Hardiness Zones 7             and higher. The hardiness of a whole plant has not been             established outside the United Kingdom.         -   Propagation.—Softwood cuttings taken in June/July or             division.         -   Time to develop roots.—10-14 days are needed for initial             cuttings to develop roots.         -   Temperature for rooting.—Recommended air temperature for             rooting is 24° Centigrade.         -   Crop time.—1 year needed to produce a finished 1-liter             commercial container plant from a rooted cutting.         -   Diseases and pests.—No particular susceptibility or             resistance to pests or diseases has been observed by the             inventor. -   Stems:     -   -   Branching.—Basal rosette with herbaceous flowering stems.             Stems unbranched at flowering time, producing a few short             laterals from the upper nodes later.         -   Dimensions.—Stem length: 50 cm-60 cm. Stem diameter: 4             mm-7 mm. Stem shape: Round. Stem color: 145B and 145C             strongly tinged with 180A when exposed to direct sunlight.             Stem pubescence: Weak. Lenticels: Absent. Internode length:             30 mm. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf.—Dimensions: 79 mm in length, 28 mm in width. Shape:             Obovate tending to elliptic. Arrangement: Alternate.             Margins: Sparsely denticulate. Division: Entire. Apex:             Acute. Base: Cuneate. Color (adaxial): 137C and 146B. Broad             marginal band of 5C. Irregular patches of intermediate color             where two zones meet. Color (abaxial): 147C and 147D. Broad             marginal band of 5D. Irregular patches of intermediate color             where two zones meet. Pubescence (adaxial and abaxial):             Absent Venation pattern: Pinnate. Vein color (adaxial and             abaxial): 157A. Lateral veins similar to lamina. Attachment:             Sessile. Stipules: Absent.         -   Fragrance.—None observed. -   Flowers:     -   -   Bloom period.—June/July.         -   Inflorescence type.—Terminal corymb.         -   Quantity of flowers per stem.—14-21.         -   Pedicel.—Dimensions: 1 mm to 2 mm in length, 1 mm in             diameter. Color: Between 150C and 150D, variably tinged with             red (too small to color match). Pubescence: Sparsely             glandular-pubescent.         -   Bud.—Dimensions: 42 mm to 48 mm in length, 7 mm to 8 mm in             diameter. Shape: Narrowly ovoid-ellipsoid with an acute             apex. Color: 9D variable tinged and veined with red (too             small to color match).         -   Flower.—Greatest overall diameter: 45 mm to 68 mm. Depth of             throat: Tube formed from fused basal sections of calyx and             corolla, 13 mm to 16 mm in length, 2 mm in diameter. Length             of perianth: Including tube, 21 mm to 30 mm. Flowers,             persistent or self-cleaning: Self-cleaning. Shape: Corolla             bowl-shaped above tubular hypanthodium. Aspect: Facing             outward to upward. Calyx: Diameter: not applicable. The             calyx opens by splitting down one side and folds over to             accommodate corolla so that the shape is irregular and             somewhat flattened. Height: Unclear because of form, but             length approximately 20 mm. Pubescence and type:             Glandular-pubescent (also hypanthodium). Color: 164C,             variably tinged and veined with red giving an overall             impression of between 170C and 170D. Number of sepals: Not             applicable, fused.         -   Petals.—Number: 4. Fused or free: Free above the             hypanthodium. Dimensions: 34 mm to 39 mm in length, 37 mm to             44 mm in width. Shape: Obcordate, upper surface concave.             Margin: Upper third undulate and crenate, otherwise entire             and mostly flat. Surface: Glabrous. Color (adaxial and             abaxial): Outer surface between 5A and 5B. Inner surface             between 5A and 5B intensifying to between 6A and 6B with             age.         -   Flower fragrance.—Weak. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Stamens: 8, inserted at the top of the             hypanthodium. Filament dimensions: 13 mm in length, <1 mm in             width. Filament color: 12A. Anther dimensions: 5 mm to 6 mm             in length, 1 mm in width. Anther shape: Slender elongate,             attached to filament at midpoint. Anther color: 12A. Pollen             quantity: Copious. Pollen color: Mid-Yellow, impossible to             color match satisfactorily.         -   Stigma.—Shape: 4 lobed with lobes held at right angles to             style and each other. Dimensions: Lobes 9 mm in length, 1 mm             wide. Color: 9A. Style dimensions: 34 mm in length, <1 mm in             width. Ovary Number: 4 locules. Dimensions: 9 mm in length,             4 mm in width. Shape: Quadrangular-ellipsoid with strongly             winged angles. Position: Inferior. Color: 144B strongly             tinged with red on the angles (too small to color mach             successfully). -   Seed: No seed observed to date. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Oenothera plant named ‘LISHAL’ as described and illustrated. 